The Story of a Coast 2 Coast Team training ride ( 60 miles Gwent Valleys - Cardiff to Brynmawr

..They don't call it Brynmawr (BIG HILL) for nothing - its ALL up hill after the first 10 Butttt...

Had a great rideout today as a fivesome on a challenging training route set for us by Ricardo EPO ..Poppy.. Cavendish (Gareth). Billed as "one hell of a climb" the organiser promised constant gradient after the opening 10 miles of flat.

After 10, 20 and even 30 miles many were still looking for the first pull of the day but I noted several, I guess they must of just missed them and were too busy taking in the numerous beautiful veiws.

Personally I very much enjoyed the x 3 hors D.. categories climbs. Others I felt thought the route may make an ideal time trial loop.

For me the days stand out ascents would have to include the challenging and much misunderstood ..Mount Risca.., The awesome & picturesque ..Col du Aberbeeg.. (including the ..hump de Aldi.. - where on the return leg Mr H Jones after a substantial night on the juice bonked (got very tired) for a 3rd time on his prototype ninkinonk cellotape fused racing Battaglin) and the days biggest challenge, the mist shrouded, fearsome and menacing but often overlooked ..MONT D' GALIBITILLERY...

Once at the summit, the leader (Gareth) shouted at us between a few bars of N.E.R.D or Oasis and above the maximum volume of his iPOD (ITS ON SHUFFLE BUTT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR GONNA GET NEXT IT COULD BE SHERYL CROW THOUGH) "we're going to hammer it across the top to Brynmawr and then we turn round and start the descent...."

Apart from the all the other magnificent scenes that seem to catch ones breath on such a sojourn, I have to confess that never before have I come across such a concentration of ..women?.. at a TESCO Extra with handlebar moustaches. The Lower Gwent Valleys for me often rival the stunning natural beauty of somewhere such as Port Talbot and its majestic CORUS steel plant domininated skyline.

The day very nearly ended with Myself and Rich who had dropped off from the lead group in the final 3 miles being run off the road by a few of Gareth's traveller neighbours with their donkey powered traps.

Fortunately all survived unharmed and made it back to base for a bowl of Pasta and to be left with final orders from Stormin Norman (Gareth) to do another Turbo sesh later that day.

Can't wait to go on the next ..Poppy.. (Gareth) ride I hope its as good as this one.....

Phil
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